Big run helps Cathedral top Nicollet

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- New Ulm Cathedral used a 16-0 run in the first half to down Nicollet 57-33 Friday in nonconference girls basketball action.

Tony Hall led Cathedral with 13 points. Nikki Fischer scored 10 points and Angela scored 10 as the Greyhounds improved to 4-1 overall.

"I think part of it was that we were attacking more so than they were," Cathedral coach Mary Dengerud said. "I think in the first half we had three or four three-on-twos. I said 'you gotta take it at them and we're not waiting for the defense to catch up with us."

The Greyhounds pressure in the first half and offensive rebounding gave Cathedral a 13-6 lead after one quarter.

In the second quarter, baskets by Fischer and Katie Beranek put the Greyhounds up 17-6. Catherine Miheve's jumper inside made it 19-6 and Hall's 3-pointer gave Cathedral a 22-6 lead.

Then, with Cathedral up 26-6, Nicollet's Molly Erdman ended the Raiders' scoring drought with a free throw with 3:53 left in the half. Erdman hit the only field goal -- a 3-pointer -- in the second quarter to make it 30-10. Cathedral outscored Nicollet 21-9 in the second quarter.

The Greyhounds led 34-15 at halftime.

"They did a nice job. They put some pressure out there," Christenson said. "We didn't handle it the way we would've like to have handled it. We came back a little bit later and got ourselves squared away."

The Raiders rebounded better in the second half and freshman Shannon Renne scored the first four points of the quarter for the Raiders to make it 34-19. Renne scored seven points for Nicollet.

"We just struggle rebounding and I don't know why," Nicollet coach Kevin Christenson said. "We've got decent size and a couple of kids who can get the ball. We just need to spend a lot more time on that I guess.

"We've been outrebounded quite often this year," Christenson said. "That was huge in this game."

The Greyhounds struggled from the field and scored their final six points at the free throw line.

"We came down and couldn't get the bucket in," Dengerud said. "That's going to happen because that's the way we play."

Cathedral led 46-29 after three and held the Raiders to only four points in the final eight minutes.

Nicollet was led by Erdman's 15 points. Klarissa Swenson scored seven. Miheve scored eight and Beranek scored six for the Greyhounds.

Cathedral (4-1) is at Sleepy Eye St. Mary's Tuesday. Nicollet (3-4) hosts Sibley East Monday.